Gunboat-turret



(N o Model.)v 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. H. AVEY.

GUNBOAT TURRET.

No. 461,517. Patented Oot.20, 1891.

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3 Sheets Sheet 2.

W. H. AVEY.

(No Model.)

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Patented ont. 20, 1891.

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A TTORNE YS UNITED STATES PATENT EETCEe VILLIAM H. AVEY, OF COLUMBUS, KENUCKY.

GUNBOAT-TURRET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 461,517, dated October 20, 1891. Application tiled August Z9, 1891. Serial No. 404,155. (No model.l

Toa/ZZ whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. AvEY, residing at Columbus, Hickman county, State of Kentucky, have invented a new and useful Improvement inA Gunboat-Turrets, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has for its object to provide a gunboat-.turret in which the cannon platform or 'loor is adapted for vertical adjustment and which is held to revolve with the turret or shield proper; and it consists`inthe peculiar combination and novel arrangement of parts, such aswill hereinafter be fully described in the annexed specification and particularly pointed out in the claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- `Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved turret. Fig. 2 is a similar View of the same with the flange -or skirt removed.. Fig. 3 is a-horizontal section on the line 3 3, Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal section, and Fig; 5 is a detail perspective view, of the cannon-supporting platform.

In the accompanying drawings, A indicates a portion of the framing of the boat, and o, a a2 a series of floors, and a3 the main deck or iron platform upon which the turret mechanism is supported. By reference to Figs. 2 and 4 it will be observed that upon the main deck or frame a4 is formed a circular guiderail B, upon which is mounted the main turret-body C, which is formed of a straight vertical portion c and the cone-shaped top portion c', which portion is provided with any desired number of port-holes c2, as shown, said body C being supported upon a series of track-wheels c3, which it the rail B, and are held to travel therein in a manner presently explained.

By tapering the upper part of the turretbody, as stated, it will be observed that it will serve to deflect the projectiles which may be shot against it, and to further protect the turret-body and to produce a still greater glancing-surface, a hood or skirt portion D is formed over the lower or vertical part c of .the turret-body C, such skirt being flared out, as shown most clearly inFig. 4, from which it will be noticed that such skirt extends down to near the platform a3 and effectually protects the rail-sup port of the turret C The said turret C is held to rotate with a ceutral shaft E, which extends down through the several floors a a2 into the lo wermost compart- 55 ment, where it is provided with a large gear or master wheel F, which 'is driven by the gearf on a drive-shaftf, driven by suitablyarranged horizontal engines. (Not shown.)

The upper end of the shaft E has secured to 6o it the hood or turret-body C, which rotates with the shaft, as will be understood from the drawings.

G indicates the cannon supporting or hoist 'floor,whicl1 is circular and tits inside the vertical portion of the body C, is held for vertical adjustmenttherein, and to turn therewith, it being provided with a number of guidelugs g g, with which engage vertical guideflan'ges C2 on the inside of the body C, which serve the double purpose of guiding the vertical adjustment of the floor and for making a'connect-ion between the turret-body C and the floor, whereby the two are caused to rotate together.

. G indicates the cannonfloor, which is mounted on rollers (f on the hoist-licor, whereby it is capable of independent rotation on the hoist-floor.

H indicates a hollow sleeve, which has antifriction bearings 71y 7L at its upper and lower edges against the shaft E, and extends up, through the cannon-floor, it being provided with apertures h2 h2, whereby such sleeve will effectually serve as a ventilator.

Upon the under side of the hoist-floor a number of brackets I I are provided, formed with serew-aperturcs't` i, in which iit the screwshanks j of the elevating-rods J, the lower ends'of which passv through lubricated bearings in the ioor a2 and extend into the middle compartment, where they are provided with cog-gears K K, which mesh with a cogwheel L, secured to or cast integral with a larger cog-wheel L', loosely journaled in the main shaft E and driven by the wheel M on the shaft m, which in turn is driven by the engines held on the boat in any well-known manner. By this construction it will be seen that the hoist-door can be quickly elevated roo or lowered by the reversing of the shaft in., which in its movement will cause the several screw-rods J to rotate and lift the brackets I I and the hoist-door.

In practice a pipe extends through the tube H down to t-he second compartment, which holds the hoistpo\ver, in which a lever is arranged which can be operated from the turret-chamber, and which in turn will operate a suitably-arranged butterliy-valve, which will serve to reverse the motion of the hoist mechanism, as desired.

N indicates the rail upon which thecanuon is run to or from the port-holes, such cannon being suitably supported :in atruck-frame,as shown. j

In operation when the floor is lowered the cannon is first drawn inward, and can be sighted, if desired, and itand the Hoor raised to the desired height, when the cannon will be moved so that its small end will project through the port-hole and close it.

It will be understood that, whilel have not shown them, shutters or slides operated from the inside of the turret may be employed to close the ports. r

From the foregoing description, taken in connection Withvthe drawings, the advantages and operation of my improvedturret Will be readily understood. The same is exceedingly simple in its construction, easy to manipulate, and eectivefor the desired purpose.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is- A 1. The combination, with the deck a3, of the drive-shaft E, projected above said deck, the body C, mounted on the shaft E and held to revolve on the deck '(13, and the hoist-platform G, arranged for vertical adjustment within the body C, and the cannon-floor G', connected with the body C and rotated thereby, substantially as and-for the purpose described.

2.' The combination, with the open deck as and the drive-shaft E projected above the saine, of the turret-body C, mounted on said shaft and held to rotate on the deck, said body having a vertical portion c and an outwardlyiiared skirt or ange D, arranged around and held from the said vertical portion c, as and for the purpose described.

3. An improved turret comprising a main deck a3, the drive-shaf t E, projected above the deck, a turret-body C, mounted on the shaft and held to be revolved on the deck by the turning of said shaft, the hoist-floor G, operating within the body C, vertically adjustable therein, a cannon-supporting door mounted on the hoist-door to be connected with the turret-bod y C and arranged to be revolved on the hoist-floor, and means for adjusting the hoist-floor, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. The combination, with the open deck a, the drive-shaft E, the turret-body C, mounted thereon and revolved thereby, and the vertically adjustable hoist-Hoor G, operating within the body C, of the cannon-Hoor connected with the body C to be turned thereby and sup ported on the hoist-Hoor, said hoist-floor G having atube portion K surroundingthe shaft and projected up 'into the body C, substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.

5. The combination, with the open deck a3, the drive-shaft E, and the turret-body held thereon and revolved thereby, provided with vertical guides C2 on tsinner face, of the cannon-Hoor G, having radial lugs arranged to engage and travel on the guides C2, and the hoisting and driving mechanism, arranged substantially as shown and for the purpose described.

\VILLIAM H. AVEY.

Witnesses:

E. T. RICHARDSON, W. R. SUBLETTE. 

